Fastest bikes at Big Mountain Enduro No. 1
Is that a new Giro enduro helmet with removable chinbar we spy on pro men’s winner Richie Rude’s head? (click to enlarge) Photo by Eddie Clark/www.eddieclarkmedia.com
The first stop of the 2016 Big Mountain Enduro returned to New Mexico for the first time since the 2013 series opener. The event was held in conjunction with the Outside Bikes and Brews festival in Santa Fe. Actual racing occurred 20 minutes outside Santa Fe at the Glorieta Camps. The race featured four stages in the rugged Sangre de Cristo Mountains that would see racers tackling over 7500 feet of climbing on the transitions. The transitions and timed stages together totaled just over 35 miles for an incredibly long and big day on the bike.
Reigning Enduro World Series champion Richie Rude of Yeti Cycles notched another impressive win, with Adam Craig (Giant) and Scott Countryman (FlagBikeRev/KonaBike/MRP) rounding out the podium. In the women’s pro category Cooper Dendel (Honey Stinger/Bontrager) initially took victory by 0.75 seconds with a total time of 44.15.87. But later it declared that Marin rider Anne Galyean actually tied Dendel for first. Alexandra Pavon (Flag Bike Rev/Juliana) was third. (See full pro men’s results here and full pro women’s results here.)
Mtbr contributing photographer Eddie Clark got an up close look at the top bikes from the race, and one very interesting new helmet (see above).
Richie Rude opened up his winning account with his first BME victory of the season aboard his Yeti SB5.5c. (click to enlarge) Photo by Eddie Clark/www.eddieclarkmedia.com
Richie Rude’s bike of choice for this long race was the Yeti SB5.5C (size large) with its 29-inch wheels that has 140mm of rear (Fox Float X) travel and 160mm of front (Fox 36) travel. For the most part, this bike is pretty much what you would get straight from the bike shop if you bought the top of the line build minus the ENVE wheels. A notable difference is the OneUp Components 32 tooth round chainring and chain guide that differs from a stock Shimano XTR setup (click to enlarge). Photo by Eddie Clark/www.eddieclarkmedia.com
The No. 1 plate goes to Richie Rude of Yeti Cycles, who also happens to be the fastest enduro racer in the world at the moment. Steering is handled with Renthal Fatbar Lite Carbon bars, Renthal Apex stem and Ergon GE1 grips. On top of it all sits a Garmin 510 for tracking his ride (click to enlarge). Photo by Eddie Clark/www.eddieclarkmedia.com
Braking is done with a combination of four piston Shimano Saint calipers that are actuated by Shimano XTR levers with 180mm Shimano IceTech rotors front and rear (click to enlarge). Photo by Eddie Clark/www.eddieclarkmedia.com
New for 2016 is the Maxxis Aggressor 2.30″ enduro specific rear tire that features the new Double Down sidewall technology. Essentially, Double Down is a downhill-light sidewall built specifically for the rigors of enduro racing. It has two 120 TPI casing layers reinforced with a butyl insert. The tread itself is a bit faster rolling than say a Minion DHR II, but still has meaty corner knobs. Up front, Richie is running a classic but proven 2.5″ Maxxis Minion DHF (click to enlarge). Photo by Eddie Clark/www.eddieclarkmedia.com
When you’re the reigning EWS World Champion, you get a custom saddle. A Fox dropper post gets the saddle down and out of the way (click to enlarge). Photo by Eddie Clark/www.eddieclarkmedia.com
Both wheels spin on DT Swiss 350 hubs that are laced to 28 hole DT Swiss EX471 alloy rims, and are driven by a Shimano 1×11 XTR drivetrain (click to enlarge). Photo by Eddie Clark/www.eddieclarkmedia.com
Adam Craig getting rowdy aboard his Giant Trance just before the big drop at the finale to stage four where he would seal up second place overall (click to enlarge). Photo by Eddie Clark/www.eddieclarkmedia.com
Adam Craig chose to race his 27.5″ wheeled Giant Trance with 140mm of rear travel and 150mm of front travel for its spirited snappy performance. While his RockShox Monarch Plus RC3 rear shock sports a sticker with his name on it, the shock itself is stock as is the RockShox Pike fork (click to enlarge). Photo by Eddie Clark/www.eddieclarkmedia.com
Craig’s Trance is running all SRAM XX1 1×11 drivetrain with a 34 tooth chainring. Chain retention is beefed up with an MRP chain guide (click to enlarge). Photo by Eddie Clark/www.eddieclarkmedia.com
For tires, Craig ran a Schwalbe 2.35″ Nobby Nic in the rear, and a 2.35″ Magic Mary up front. Both tires have the lighter weight Snakeskin Trail sidewalls, and are mounted on SRAM Roam 50 wheels. Braking is handled with SRAM Guide brakes and 180mm rotors for front and rear (click to enlarge). Photo by Eddie Clark/www.eddieclarkmedia.com
For pedals, Craig relies on the new HT T1 clipless model that feature a smaller and lighter cage with two replaceable pins on the toe side of the spindle (click to enlarge). Photo by Eddie Clark/www.eddieclarkmedia.com
Continue to page 2 for more of the fastest bikes from Big Mountain Enduro No. 1 »
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